Confessions of an Autonomous Church Planter

[Nahum]

We had an awesome service this morning. The spirit of God moved in a very refreshing way, and the gifts of the Spirit were in operation from the very first prayer of the service.

I have been in my city for a little over six years, and we've seen great miracles. We have also suffered enormous setbacks. In 2005 our church baptized over 25 people and saw almost as many receive the Holy Ghost. In 2006, we lost almost half of our church for a variety of reasons. We have begun to recover, and attendance is steadily climbing again.

My wife and I have been on a never-ending roller coaster ride since August of 2000. For the past year the church has been in full "bunker mentality" mode. Compounding the problem - my wife has been diagnosed with Graves Disease. But in all of our trials, God has been good. As of Monday of last week, our church is completely debt free. I now have saints who are capable of teaching and ministring to others.

This morning a message in tongues came forward that confirmed what the Lord had spoken to me while I was on vacation in Colorado last month. I am paraphrasing, but the gist of the message was that Jesus knows where we are at, that a spiritual rain such as we have never experienced is on its way, and that the Lord promised to send winds of refreshing, beginning immedately.

This all happened before one key was played on the keyboard. People were weeping, and clapping, and praising God all over the building. There was a noticable change in the atmosphere of our people.

I want to encourage every church planter and home missions church to stay in the fight. Faith brings a reward. Don't give up hope. The Lord still walks among his churches.